Track-tamping implement.



A. F. HART. TRACK TAMPING IMPLEMENT.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. a, 1908.

Patented 0015,1909,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

3 I vumnroz wunmi A f; Z W 3% I .36. attoznuao A. F. HART.

TRACK TAMPING IMPLEMENT.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 8, 1908.

Patented- Oct. 5, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Hllll A. F. HART.

TRACK TAMPING IMPLEMENT.

APPLICATION FILED SEPTQB, 1908. 935,7 57.

Patented Oct. 5, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

ABLE F. HART, 0F HICKORY, NORTH CAROLINA.

TRACK-TAMPING IMPLEMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 5, 1909.

Application filed September 8, 1908. Serial No. 452,025.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Anna F. HART, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hickory, in the county of Catawba and State of NorthCarolina, have invented a new and useful Track-Tamping Implement, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention has reference to improvements in track tamping implementsand its object is to provide a means for tamping ballast under the tiesof a railroad track more expeditiously and to better effect than can bedone by hand.

The operation of tamping ballast under the railroad ties in order tosolidify the ballast at this point and to form a firm and unyieldingsupport for the ties is customarily performed by hand with a bar havinga flattened end, and called a tamping bar.

By the structure of the present invention the hand operation issimulated but is performed at once along the whole length of a tie onboth sides thereof and to this extent the operation is expedited.Furthermore the tamping heads are brought into such relation to theunder side of the tie as to operate upon the material to the bestadvantage.

In accordance with the present invention the tamplng implement ismounted upon a truck by means of which it may be trans ported from placeto place upon the track rail, and this truck may be further utilized forthe carrying of tools or other implements in addition to the tampingmechanism.

In accordance With the present invention means are provided for lockingthe tamping implement to the track and the locking means are soconstructed as to elevate the truck above the track when the lockingmeans are active in order that movement of the device along the trackwhen being used for tamping is prevented. Provision is also made for theadjustmentof the tamping heads to accommodate ties of differentthicknesses and widths.

Since it is important that the track should be properly leveled in alateral direction and the pitch of the track for curves should beaccurately determined, the invention contemplates the use of a levelingmeans whereby the relative altitude of the two rails one to the othermay be readily determined.

Since in the tamping operation the tamping blades or teeth arenecessarily below the level of the upper faces of the ties, provision'is made for elevating the working ends of the tamping members and forlocking the tamping fingers in such elevated position v and provision ismade whereby the operating levers may be so placed as to be utilizableas handles for lifting the tamping implement as a whole from and ontothe two tracks.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of thefollowing detail description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this specification in which drawings,

Figure l is a plan view of the tamping implement shown resting on thetrack but with the platform omitted. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of thetamping implement 011 the track, showing the supplemental platform inplace and indicating the position of the parts for transportation. Fig.3 is an end elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 2 with the trackand operating handles shown in section. Figs. d and 5 are sideelevations showing the implement in different operative positions. Figs.6 to 12 are detail views.

Referring to the drawings there are shown two track rails 1 and a numberof ties 2. There are. also shown two pairs of wheels 3 mounted uponaxles 4, one pair of wheels being spaced from the other pair of wheels.The axles are joined by end frames At an intermediate point between thetwo axles the frames 5, which may be of skeleton form for lightness, arejoined by a rod 6, projecting beyond each end frame 5 for a purposewhich will hereinafter appear. The two end frames 5 together with thetwo axles 4: and rod (5 constitute a truck for supporting the tampingimplement structure, and by means of which the structure may betransported from point to point upon the track rails. Since thestructure should be as rigid as possible the axles 4 and rod (3 are madefast to the end frames 5 by set screws or otherwise and the wheels 3 aremade to turn freely on the ends of the axles at projecting outside theframes 5 and these wheels may be held to the axles by cotter pins 7 orotherwise.

Mounted upon the ends of the rod (3 where it projects beyond the endframes 5 are segments 8 so mounted as to turn on the rod as an axis.There are two oppositely directed segments 8 on each end of the rodbeyond the corresponding end frame 5. The outer wide ends of thesegments 8 are formed with rack teeth 9. Each segment 8 is formed nearits wide or toothed end with a thickened portion 10 through which there.is formed a slot 11 elongated in a direction radial to the axis of thesegment. Along the ties but separated from the slot 11 is another narrowslot 12 parallel with the first named slot 11. Within the slot 11 thereis located a block 13 having a passage therethrough for a rectangularbar 14 to which reference will presently be made. The block 13 isprovided on one side with an ear 15 lying against the thickened portion10 of the segment coincident with that part pierced by the slot 12.Extending through the said slot 12 is a bolt 16 having a square shankwithin the slot and having a threaded end passing through a hole in thecar 15. The threaded end of the bolt 16 has the threads of quick pitch,and applied to this threaded end is a nut 17 having a radial handle 18by means of which the nut may be readily manipulated. There are two rodsor bars 14 each supported at the ends by a corresponding one of thesegments 8 and these bars extend through openings 19 in the end frames 5on opposite sides of the vertical plane of the axis of the rod 6. Eachbar 14 carries a number of blocks 20 each of which carries a curvedfinger or arm 21 at the free end of Which is formed a blade 22. The arms21 are adjustable longitudinally on the block 20 and are held inadjusted positions by means of a set screw 23 and the blocks 20 are adjustable in the respective bar 14 and are held in adjusted positions bymeans of set screws 24 each of whichlatter however is provided with amanipulating handle 25 similar to the handle 18 so that the set screws24 may be readily operated without the necessity of the use of a wrenchor other tool. Each bar 14 carries a series of substantially equallyspaced arms 21, the arms being placed as closely as is necessary tocausethe blades 22 to compact the ballast under the ties along the wholelength thereof. The teeth 9 of each segment 8 are in mesh with a pinion26, there being a separate pinion for each segment and the pinions 26 onthe same side of the median line of the device are mounted on therespective ends of a square shaft 27, which shaft is journaled forrotation in the end frames 5. By this means the two segments 8connecting a bar 14 are in mesh with the pinions 26 upon the same squareshaft 27 so that the segments and pinions are constrained to move insynchronism.

The end frames 5 are continued away from the median line beyond thewheels 3 for a suflicient distance and there carry studs 28 on which aremounted gear segments 29 meshing with the pinions 26. On the side of thestud 28 remote from the gear teeth the segments 29 are provided withsockets 30 for the reception of manipulating handles or levers 31. Thegear segments 29 are secured on the studs 28 by means of cotter pins 32or other suitable means for the ready removal of the gear segments withthe lever handles 31 when so desired, as will appear hereinafter. At apoint between the median line of each frame 5 and each axle 4 the saidframe 5 is provided with a pair of spaced ears or brackets 33. Each pairof cars 33 carries a pin 34 on which is pivoted a tooth 35 having ahooked end 36 and a projecting pin 37 extending laterally from itspivoted end eccentric to the axis thereof. Also mounted upon the pin 34immediately adjacent to the tooth 35 is a cam 40, on one side of which,the side remote from the active face of the cam, there is formed an car41, while on the same side of the cam member the latter is flattened orotherwise shaped as indicated at 42 to engage the pin 39 on the tooth 35when the cam member has been moved to a certain extent for a purposewhich will hereinafter appear. The two cam members at the same end ofthe structure are connected by a re spective link 43 to a manipulatinglever 44 on the opposite side of the pivot 45 thereof. This lever isprovided with a thumb latch 46 of ordinary construction in operativerelation to a rack segment 47 mounted upon the respective axle 4 and inturn carrying the pivot of the lever 44.

1V hen the tooth is unrestrained then its normal tendency is togravitate with the hook end 36 lowermost and the parts are so locatedthat under these conditions the hook 36 will engage under the tread of arail 1, and the cam 40 is moved in the proper direction to cause itsactive face to engage the tread of the rail and so lift the pin 34 untilthe tread of the rail is firmly grasped between the hook 36 and theactive face of the cam 40. This is done by a proper manipulation of thelever 44 at each end of the structure and the lever is locked in theadjusted position by means of the thumb latch 46 engaging the rack 47.The elevation of the pins 34 is participated in by the entire structureso that the wheels 3 are lifted clear of the tracks 1. Under theseconditions the structure is locked fast to the track with the wheels outof engagement with the track.

hen the levers 42 are moved in the opposite direction, the active facesof the cams 40 are moved out of engagement with the tread of the wheelsso that the pins 34 and the entire structure is permitted to be low ereduntil the wheels 3 come in engagement with the tread of the track rails.During this operation the hooks 36 have been loosened from engagementwith the rail tread and ultimately the flattened portions of the cammembers are brought into engagement with the pins 39 on the members 35and the latter are thereby moved about their pivots until the hooks 36are moved away from the tread of the rails to such an extent that theentire structure may be lifted off the rails without interferencebecause of the hooked ends 36 of the members 35.

Miounted upon the frames 5 in operative relation to the square shaft 27are hooks 18 shaped to engage over the square shaft and thus preventthem from rotation. The purpose of these hooks will appear hereinafter.Each rod 14 is stiffened by means of a truss rod t9 connected to studs50 on the rod 14; and engaging an intermediate stud 5-0 at a centralportion of the red. A turnbuckle 51 in the rod at?) serves to regulatethe tension of said rod. At a central point on the rod 6 there ismounted a level 52, held at the ends to said red by means of clips Theactive portion 5 1 of the level is curved on an arc the radius of whichis one-half the distance between the centers of the treads of the twotracks at standard gage. The purpose of this level will appearhereinafter.

In Fig. 2 there is shown a platform 55 mounted upon legs 56 which forconvenience may be made of pipes screwed at the upper ends into sockets57 fast on the under side of the platform 55. The lower end of each leg56 receives a pin 58 projecting from a casting or standard 59. The lowerside of the casting 59 is shaped to rest on and partially embrace acorresponding part of one of the axles 1. To stiffen the platform 55 andthe legs 56, curved braces (30 are provided connected at a central pointby a clip 61 to the under side of the platform 55. These braces alsoengage pins 62 projecting from the casting 59. The platform 55 is thuseasily placed upon the tamping implement or removed therefrom at willand is designed to receive tools or any other struc tures it is desiredto transport with the tamping implement to the point of use.

Let it be assumed that the tamping implement has been transported to thepoint where the tamping is to be performed and that the implement hasbeen properly located with relation to the tie to be acted upon. Now thelevers 44: are manipulated to lift he truck away from the rails and atthe same time clamp the truck to the rails by the acti on of the cammember 10 and teeth 35 carried by each pair of ears If it be foundnecessary, the block 13 is adjusted in the slot 11 to bring the tampingblades 22 into proper relation to the material immediately beneath thetie on to which the tamping is to be done. Now the track is leveled sothat the two rails have the same altitude or if it be desirable, as forinstance on a curve, then one track is elevated to a greater extent thanthe other and the degree of elevation becomes apparent upon the level 54and the level may be graduated to indicate the degree of inclination. Assoon as the tamping implement has been properly set then the handles 31,which in the particular in strument shown in the drawings are four innumber are grasped by four operators and the outer ends are depressed.This will impart a like rotative movement to the four pinions 26, thoseon the same side of the median line acting in unison, and the segments 8are moved about the axis of the rod 6 in a direction to bring thetamping blades 22 into engagement with the material immediately beneatha respective tie 2. All the blades 22 on the same side of the tie arebrought down in unison against the material and the latter is forcedfirmly under the tie. The operation may be repeated as often asnecessary in order to thoroughly compact the ballast or other materialunder the tie.

It is to be noted that the two sets of tamping blades on opposite sidesof the tie are independently movable so that the tamping may beregulated as desired on opposite sides of the tie. The operation iscontinued as long as necessary by repeated movements up and down of thehandles 31 and when the tamping under any particular tie has beencompleted then the tamping blades are elevated by the movement of thehandles 31 toward the vertical positiom after which the device may beunclamped from the rail and moved to the next tie and the machine bereclamped to the rails and the tamping operation be repeated in themanner already described. Whenever it becomes necessary to adjust thedistances between the tan'iping blades and their general relation to therod 6, this adjustment is greatly facilitated by the handled nuts 17since these latter are so constructed that the nut may be quicklyloosened by a small movement of the handle 18 and quickly clamped inplace again. By loosening the nut 17 on the block 13 carried by eachsegment 8 at the opposite ends of a rod 1% the latter may be readilyadjusted with relation to the axis of the segments 8 and quickly clampedin place.

Now let it be assumed that the operation of tamping at any particularpoint has been accomplished and that it is desirable to move the wholestructure for a considerable distance. Under these circumstances thelovers 31 are m ved toward the upright position to the full extent oftheir movement and this will elevate the arms 21 until the blades 22 areabove the upper edges of the ties 2. The hooks or latches e28 are nowbrought into engagement with the square shafts 27 and the latter arethereby locked against further ro tative movement. The cotter pins 32are now removed from the studs 28 and the segments 29 together with thelever handles 31 may be removed from the studs 28 and then replaced uponthe studs with the gear teeth in engagement with the pinions 26 but withthe handles 31 substantially horizontal. If the tamping blades 22 havenot been sufficiently elevated by the first movement of the levers 31toward the vertical position, then these levers may be again moved fromthe horizontal toward the vertical position until the tamping blades 22have been sufficiently elevated after which the hooks tS which have beenremoved from the square shafts for this last named movement are againplaced in engagement with the square shafts and the latter are lockedagainst further rotative movement. The segments 29 may be once moreremoved from the studs 28 and again replaced with the lever handles 31in the horizontal or substantially horizontal position, and then thecotter pins 82 may be replaced in the studs 28 thus securing thesegments 29 on said studs. The levers 44: are manipulated to such anextent as to carry the tooth members 35 well away from the rail tread.The platform is now placed upon the truck of the device and whatever isto be transported is loaded upon the platform. The entire structure maynow be attached to a hand car or other propelling means and drawn to anydesired place of use or housing, or if the distance to be traveled isnot too great then the device may be pushed to the point of use.

It sometimes becomes necessary to lift the structure from the track andeither place it on another track or place the structure in a suitablehouse. For this purpose the levers 31 when in the substantiallyhorizontal position where they are locked by the hooks 48 engaging thesquare shafts 27 are utilized as handles for the lifting of the entirestructure off the track and if necessary the carrying of the structurefor any desired distance free from either the track or the round.

It will be understood of course that the invention is not confined tothe details of construction or the proportions of parts shown in thedrawings and various changes in the structure may be made so long assalient features of the invention are retained.

What is claimed is 1. A tamping implement havin two series of tampingblades, each series being arranged for operation on a respective side ofa single tie, the blades of each series being positively connected for,simultaneous action and the two series being capable of independent orsimultaneous movement at will.

2. A tamping implement having two series of tamping blades, each seriesbeing arranged for operation on a respective side of a single tie, theblades of each series being connected for simultaneous action and thetwo series being capable of independent or simultaneous movement atwill, spaced means for operating each series of blades, and means forconnecting the operating means of a series of blades for synchronousmovement.

3. In a tamping implement, a series of tamping blades, a common supporttherefor, pivotal carriers for the support, and means for permitting theadjustment of the common support to or from the axis of the pivot.

a. In a tamping implement, a series of tamping blades, a supporting barcommon to said blades, pivotal carriers for the bar each having a radialslot, and a block on each carrier receiving the bar and adjustable inthe slot therein to or from the axis of the carrier.

5. In a tamping implement, a. series of tamping blades, a supporting barfor said blades, a pivotal carrier for each end of the bar and having aradial slot and another slot pa 'allel thereto, a block on said carrierwithin the radial slot and sustaining the respective end of the bar, anda clamp bolt extending through the second named slot in the carrier andengaging the block.

6. In a tamping implement, a series of tamping blades, a supporting barfor said blades, a pivotal carrier for each end of the bar and having aradial slot and another slot parallel thereto, a block on said carrierwithin the radial slot and sustaining the respective end of the bar, aclamp bolt extending through the second named slot in the carrier andengaging the block, and a handled nut on said bolt.

7. In a tamping implement, a series of tamping blades, a supporting barfor said blades, a segmental gear and means thereon for supporting thebar at each end thereof, and an operating segmental gear and interposedidler pinion for each of the first named segmental gears.

S. In a tamping implement, a series of tamping blades, a supporting barfor said blades, a segmental gear and means thereon for supporting thebar at each end thereof, an operating segmental gear and interposedidler pinions for each of the first named segmental gears, and aconnecting shaft for the idler pinions.

9. In a tamping implement, a series of tamping blades, a supporting barfor said blades, a segmental gear and means thereon for supporting thebar at each end thereof, an operating segmental gear and interposedidler pinions for each of the first named segmental gears, a connectingshaft for the idler pinions, and means for locking the operating meansagainst action at will.

10. In a tamping implement, a series of tamping blades, a supporting barfor said blades, a segmental gear and means thereon for supporting thesaid bar at each end thereof, an operating segmental gear and interposedidler pinions for each of the first named segmental gears, a connectingshaft for the idler pinions, and means for locking the pinions againstaction at will.

11. In a tamping implement, a series of tamping blades, a supportingbarfor said blades, a segmental gear and means thereon for supportingthe bar at each end thereof,

an operating segmental gear and interposed idler pinions for each of thefirst named segmental gears, a polygonal connecting shaft for the idlerpinions, and latches for engaging said shaft and thereby latching theoperating means against action at will.

12. In a tamping implement for railway ties, a wheeled truck, tampingmeans carried thereby, and clamps for locking the truck to the rails,said clamps at the same time lifting the truck from the track.

13. In a tamping implement for railway ties, a wheeled truck, tampingmeans carried thereby, and clamps for locking the truck to the rails,each clamp comprising a member carried by the truck and adapted toengage under the tread of the rail and a cam member adapted to engagethe top of the tread of the rail and move the first named member intoactive relation to the rail.

14. In a tamping implement for railway ties, a wheeled truck, tampingmeans carried thereby, and clamps for locking the truck to the rail,each clamp comprising a member carried by the truck adapted to engageunder the tread of the rail and a cam member adapted to engage the topof the tread of the rail and move the first named member into activerelation to the rail, and at the same time elevate the truck wheels outof engagement with the rails.

15. In a tamping implement for railway ties, a wheeled truck, tampingmeans carried thereby, and clamps for locking the truck to the rails,each clamp comprising a pendent hook adapted to engage under the treadof the rail, and a cam member adapted to engage the top of the tread ofthe rail and move the hooked member into active relation to the rail.

16. In a tamping implement for railway ties, a Wheeled truck, tampingmeans carried thereby, and clamps for locking the truck to the rails,each clamp comprising a pendent hooked member provided with a projectioneccentric to its pivot support, and a cam member adapted to engage thetop of the tread of the rail and move the first named member into activerelation to the rail when the said cam member is moved in one directionand to engage the projection on the pendent member when the said cammember is moved in the other direction to carry the pendent member awayfrom operative relation to the rail.

17. In a tamping implement for railway ties, a wheeled truck, tampingmeans carried thereby, and clamps for locking the truck to the rails,each comprising a member carried by the truck and adapted to engageunder the tread of the rail and another member adapted to engage the topof the tread of the rail and move the first named member into activerelation to the rail when the second member is moved in one directionand to move the first named member laterally away from the rail when thesaid second named member is moved in the other direction.

18. In a tamping implement for railway ties, a supporting truck, tampingmeans carried thereby, and a level extending in a direction lateral tothe travel of the truck along the track, said level being curved on anarc the radius of which is substantially one-half the distance betweenthe centers of the rail tread.

19. In an implement for operating on the road beds of railways, a levelcurved on a radius substantially one-half the distance between thecenters of the rail treads.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ABLE F. HART.

lVitnesses H. L. ABERNETHY, IV. 0.1(EUER.

